March 2021 California HR Legal Updates
California Cities Continue Introducing Hero Pay Ordinances Update Applicable to:Large retail employers operating in Pomona or Santa Ana. What happened?Cities across California continue to pass
California Cities Continue Introducing Hero Pay Ordinances Update Applicable to:Large retail employers operating in Pomona or Santa Ana. What happened?Cities across California continue to pass
E-Verify Adds New myUploads Feature Update Applicable to:All employers utilizing E-verify. What happened?On March 10, 2021, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services announced the
New COVID-19 Paid Sick Leave Update Applicable to:All California employers with more than 25 employees. What happened?On March 19, 2021, SB-95 was signed by Governor
Congress Passes American Rescue Plan Update Applicable to:All employers operating within the United States. What happened?The American Rescue Plan, the second COVID-19 related stimulus bill,
Update Applicable to:All employers with employees within the city of San Francisco. What happened?The San Francisco Board of Supervisors passed the COVID-19 Related Employment Protections
Ninth Circuit Decision Impacts Employers Expense Reimbursement Procedures Update Applicable to:All California employers. What happened?The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals held that an employer’s per
ICE Extends I-9 Verification Flexibility Update Applicable to:All employers with remote workforces. What happened?On January 27, 2021, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced the
EEOC updates Compliance Manual on Religious Discrimination Update Applicable to:All employers. What happened?On January 15, 2021, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) issued an
DFEH Releases Family and Medical Leave Tool Kit Update Applicable to:All California employers with five or more employees. What happened?The Department of Fair Employment and
Update Applicable to:Any employers utilizing workers abroad who utilized Form I-765. What happened?The DHS has announced that employers may use unexpired Form I-765, Employment Authorization
Update Applicable to:Any employers looking to utilize the H-1B visa program. What happened?U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has announced a final rule that will modify
Update Applicable to:Most California employers. Excluded are workplaces with one employee, workplaces that are now working remote, and employees who are covered by the Aerosol
Update Applicable to:All employers. What happened?On December 29, 2020, the DOL issued Field Assistance Bulletin 2020-7, which provides guidance to the DOL’s field staff on
COVID-19 Relief Bill: What It Means for PEOs & Small Business What happened?On Monday December 21, the House passed an omnibus spending bill that included $1.4
The CARES Act provided an opportunity for employers to offer the option of allowing qualified individuals to take a distribution (up to $100,000) from their IRA,
What happened?Senate Bill 1447 was enacted on September 9, 2020, and allows a small business hiring credit against California state income taxes or sales and
Prop 22 Passes Grants Special Rules for Gig Workers What happened?The Uber and Lyft backed Proposition 22 has passed in the 2020 election. What are
Department of Labor (DOL) Issues New COVID-19 Guidance for Employers What happened?On November 7, 2020, the DOL released two documents outlining common workplace inspection citations
Effective January 1, 2021, minimum wage rate increases will go into effect for a number of states, cities, and municipalities. These increases will be applicable
Attorney General Proposes Third Set of Modifications to CCPA Regulations What happened?On October 12, 2020, the California Attorney General proposed a third set of modifications
Trump Administration Announces Interim Final Rules for H-1B Visa Changes What happened?Per guidance by the Trump administration, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the
What happened?On September 29, 2020, Governor Newsom passed AB 2568. This extends protections that previously excluded domestic workers by not considering them an “employee,” to
What happened?On September 30, 2020, Governor Newsom passed AB 1512, which allows for the first time, employers to require their unionized security officers to take
What happened?On September 30, 2020, Governor Newsom signed and passed AB 2399, which extended the definitions for paid family leave. What are the details?AB 2399
What happened?On September 30, 2020, AB 1947 was passed by Governor Newsom. What are the details?AB 1947 extends the period to file a discrimination or
What happened?On September 25, 2020, Governor Newsom passed AB 3175, which amends a labor code to increase requirements before a minor’s sexual harassment prevention training
What happened?On September 30, 2020, Governor Newsom passed AB 979, which introduces requirements for employer board of directors. What are the details?AB 979 is a
What happened?On September 29, 2020, Governor Newsom passed AB 1963. What are the details?AB 1963 adds a human resource employee of a business with five
What happened?On September 29, 2020, Governor Newsom passed AB 2537, an assembly bill increasing the employer’s obligation to provide personal protective equipment (PPE) to the
Newsom Passes AB 2257 Creating More AB 5 Exemptions What happened?On September 4, 2020, Governor Gavin Newsom signed AB 2257, making it effective immediately. What
Department of Labor (DOL) Joint Employer Rule Struck Down by New York Court What happened?On September 8, 2020, Judge Woods of the U.S. District County
In 2016, California Governor Brown signed Senate Bill 1234 requiring the state’s Secure Choice Retirement Savings Investment Board to develop a workplace retirement savings program
On September 19, 2020, the California Employment Development Department (EDD) announced a two-week suspension for all new unemployment claims. In an effort to reduce backlog
The Department of Labor (DOL) has posted their new official revised regulations for the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA), effective immediately. In addition, the
What happened?On September 1, 2020, the Board of Supervisors in San Francisco unanimously passed an emergency ordinance providing temporary protections to employees related to COVID-19.
What happened?On September 9, 2020, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law AB 1867 (the Act), granting supplemental sick leave to the remaining California employees
DHS Extends Temporary COVID-19 Rule Allowing Certain H-2A Petitioners to Hire Certain Foreign Workers What happened?The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has temporarily extended some
Cal/OSHA Recommends Emergency COVID-19 Regulation with PPE and Training Provisions What happened?On August 10, 2020, staff members of the California Division of Occupational Safety and
On August 28, 2020, the California Employment Development Department (EDD) announced Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) is now available in the following counties: Lake, Monterey, Napa,
City of Oakland Passes Right of Re-employment Ordinance for Select Industries What happened?The City of Oakland has passed a new ordinance (20-0369) that gives certain
Supreme Court Rules in Favor of Religious Employers What happened?On July 8, 2020, the Supreme Court decided two cases involving the impact of religion in
What happened?U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has extended Form I-9 compliance flexibility, most notable for its allowance of remote verification for Section 2 of
What happened?The County of San Mateo and the Cities of Sacramento and Santa Rosa have passed their own Emergency Paid Sick Leave ordinances. What are
San Francisco has released two labor posting changes with an effective date of July 1, 2020. San Francisco’s minimum wage has increased to $16.07 per
CDPH Provides Guidance for Employers Responding to COVID-19 Outbreaks What happened?The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) has issued guidance to employers who may be
Supreme Court Affirms LGBTQ+ Protection Against Discrimination What happened?On June 15, 2020, the Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that the Civil Rights Act of 1964 protects
Effective July 1, 2020, minimum wage* increases will be in effect for a large number of states, cities, and municipalities. This increase will be applicable to
On June 15, 2020, the Supreme Court ruled that Title VII of the federal Civil Rights Act of 1964 protects individuals against employment discrimination based
Fluctuating Workweek What happened?On May 20, 2020, the Department of Labor (DOL) announced a change to the rules governing overtime for fluctuating workweek salaried workers.
Long Beach Supplemental Paid Sick Leave What happened? Effective May 19, 2020, certain employers in Long Beach must provide paid sick leave to staff who
On April 14, 2020, we sent out a communication regarding COVID-19 relief updates including two new loan options: Main Street New Loan Facility and Main Street Expanded
Supplemental Paid Sick Leave for Food Sector Employees What happened?On April 16, 2020, an executive order was signed which requires food service employers with 500
Centers for Disease Control (CDC) What happened?The CDC issued additional guidance for critical infrastructure workers. What are the details?Employers should pre-screen staff before they come
Applies to:Businesses who operate within the City of Los Angeles. Employers with either (1) 500 or more employees within the city of Los Angeles, or
Applies to:Covered Businesses, which include the following: Grocery stores, water retailers, farm and produce stands, supermarkets, convenience stores, warehouse stores, food banks, certified farmers markets,
Employer Annual Reporting Form Cancelled What happened?The Mayor of San Francisco signed an emergency order related to COVID-19. What are the details?Effective immediately, the City
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Resources At Vensure, we are working hard to provide up to date and important information regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. Please review our Coronavirus
Effective April 1, 2020, the FFCRA will go into effect. Under federal law, all employees must receive a copy of the new Department of Labor
What happened?On March 20, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced flexibility in complying with requirements related to
The COVID-19 pandemic and national response has been evolving over the past couple of weeks. Each day holds new information and important updates. We want
Employee Bag Checks – Court Case What happened?The California Supreme Court determined that time spent by employees while they are waiting for their bag to
Department of Transportation Random Drug and Alcohol Testing Rates Increase for 2020 What happened?The Department of Transportation (DOT) operating agencies have announced that their random
AB 5 vs. Truckers What happened?A preliminary injunction was granted to prevent the enforcement of AB 5 against motor carriers operating in California. What are
Employee Retirement Income Security Act – Increased Penalties What happened?The Department of Labor (DOL) has increased the penalties for employers if they are found to